Japan Moped Theory

Only a moped with an engine of 50 cc or less, or an electric motor rated at 0.6 kW or less, and only solo - carrying a passenger is prohibited. The legal maximum speed is 30 km/h, motorways and toll roads are off-limits, and at signalised junctions with three or more lanes you must make a two-stage right turn (二段階右折).

It is a paper mark-sheet test written in Japanese, taken at your prefectural 運転免許試験場 or a designated venue. Expect ○× true/false statements, multiple-choice items and illustrated hazard scenes. There is no practical riding test for the 原付一種 licence, although some prefectures attach a short 原付講習.

Those are set by each prefectural public safety commission and are published on the prefectural licence centre's website and in the official 原付免許教本 - check there rather than forums, because the figures differ by venue and change over time. Aim to be consistently above the published pass mark in practice before booking.

Yes. You reapply for a later test date and pay the examination fee again; most centres do not let you sit twice on the same day, and the interval you must wait is set locally. Confirm the rule with your licence centre before travelling, as it differs by prefecture.

Many prefectures require first-time applicants to complete the short 原付講習 (moped induction course), which covers practical riding basics; elsewhere it is optional or run on a separate schedule. Whether it applies to you, when it is held and what it costs are published by your prefectural licence centre.

The content is not technical - it is ordinary road rules - but the wording is precise and deliberately trap-laden. Failures usually come from reading 必ず (must) as できる (may), mixing up 徐行 (slow) and 停止 (stop), or forgetting moped-specific rules such as the 30 km/h limit and the two-stage right turn.

Signals, signs and road markings first, because every later rule refers back to them; then lane position and 通行区分; then intersections and right-of-way; then moped-specific restrictions; then hazard prediction and penalties. Finish with timed ○× drilling so you practise reading statements carefully, not just recognising facts.

Moped-only rules carry the most marks: the 30 km/h ceiling, two-stage right turns, the ban on passengers, and where mopeds may not ride. Also common: confusing 停車 and 駐車, misjudging following distance in rain, and leaving blanks - a blank is simply wrong, so answer everything.

Expect an eye and aptitude check, document screening, then the written test. Bring identification, a photograph and the fee in the form your centre requires, plus glasses or contacts if you need them for the vision check. The exact document list and the current fee are published by your prefectural licence centre.